Salomon Comet 3D GTX

Salomon Comet 3D GTX

I seem to have written about new boots several times (and several times too many) over the past two or three years and here I am again, publishing the fact that I have another pair of new boots. Rather than testing these for anyone, and writing up a review, I was forced into this purchase after my Salomon Mission GTX boots started to fall apart (see here).

The excellent warranty offered by Salomon (2 years on boots) enabled me to return them to the shop and get a refund. As the boots are no longer being made I wasn’t provided with a straight swap – for which I grateful.

Instead, armed with a Go Outdoors credit note, in the form of an ever-lasting £99 gift voucher, I headed off to the Warrington store, where I was told they had a pair of Salomon Comet 3D GTX boots in a size 11. I was in luck as their on-line stock system tallied with the actual shop stock and I was able to try them on.

Like all my other Salomon boots they felt instantly comfortable and I decided to buy them.

The list price of the boots is £140 – which seems ridiculously high for a pair of mostly synthetic, lightweight boots – but my discount card reduced that to £121.50 straight away and a bit of Internet research before I left for the shop stood me in good stead, as their Price Guarantee scheme reduced the price even further to £97.

I’ve mentioned this scheme before and it’s one of the best on the market – and easy to use too. Find the same item for a cheaper price on the Internet (not eBay). As long as it’s identical (same size for boots) and in stock on the competitor’s site, Go Outdoors will take 10% off the price of the competitor. I found the boots for £108 on MilletSports site and GO charged me 90% of this price. Not bad.

The boots feel a tad stiffer than the Missions – particularly in the heel section and the rubber rand around the front of the boot will provide more support and protection for my toes. I also expect it will last longer than the material that was used in this area on the Missions.

The fit, as per most Salomon boots is about 1/2 a size smaller than I would usually take, but they feel very comfortable after a quick test around the store. They weigh in at 1.307kg for the pair and once I removed the Salomon insole and replaced them with my Superfeet this increased to 1.374Kg.

Here’s hoping they survive better than my last couple of pairs, but if they don’t at least I know I have a two year warranty on them.

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18 Responses

Thanks for the article, I purchased a pair of these last at GoOutdoors as they were ideal for what I need and super comfortable!! I just checked on MilletSports and they have just my size in stock, so GoOutdoor just refunded me the difference, so £80.10 for these boots is excellent!!

I bought a pair of the comet 3D GTX Solomon boots size 48 on day 5 of my walk on the Camino de Santiago that I started on 24 April 2016. I needed replacements for previously excellent Asolo GTX size 46 boots that I’d used for the previous year leading up to the Camino. I needed replacements because my feet had expanded due to the daily walking of about 25km versus my daily training, with pack, which was about 8-10k daily. The Solomons were great. They required no real break-in period, I just transferred my superfeet insoles and took one day local wearing in Logrono Spain, and then back on the Camino. I usually wore them 6-8 hours a day, and 20-30km per day, sunshine, rain, dirt fields, cobble stone paths, and city pavements all with good comfort. They did get some wet inside when I’d done more than 3 or so hours in the rain, but I was using Injinji outdoor mid-weight toe socks with a thin synthetic liner over them and my feet really didn’t get more than moist probably from sweat mostly. Since my completion of the Camino at the end of May 2016, I’ve walked another 14-1500km and was able to do this through snow, rain, mud and dry conditions All with good results. I gues my only surprise is that I did wear through the soles at the outer edeges mid foot and on one heal. I’ve just had new vibram soles put on as the boot shop said they could do it and guaranteed satisfaction or they’d give my money back. We are in a small town and they know customers will come back if satisfied and if not happy. So, I think they are a good mid performance moderate hiker boot, not sure if they’d be right for more strenuous hikes like Kilimanjaro or Denali. For what it’s worth, I’m about 87kg, about 1.9m tall and about 60 years old.

Great story – I’ve just bought another pair – after 18 months in trail shoes. I found the soles of my feet getting sore after long walks and put that down to the minimal cushioning in the trail shoes. My brand new pair of Comets went straight into a 15 mile walk and feet felt as if they were in heaven 🙂

I have worn salomon footwear for years now because they are comfortable, personally I think with the gortex lining they are to warm and make your feet sweat. When I read about other peoples experiences of getting soaked feet in very wet conditions I recommend gaiters they work brilliantly, just make sure they’re a good fit around the boot

Livid. Had 3 walks in my ‘apparently’ waterproof 3gtx boots. Today on a 3 hr walk , with a half hr rain storm, my feet with sodden. I bought these to climb kilimanjaro for 10 days. There is no WAY on this earth that they are suitable or waterproof enough. Im so annoyed as ive had them 2mnths and managed these few trips bi have 5 wks b4 my big trip and do i now have to go and break more new boots in? Thats if i get a refund… Comfy yes. For hillwalking in moiste to wet weather? 100% NOOOO.

Thank you very much for the comment. Much appreciate it. Just to confirm, I didn’t step into any water during my walk, my boots didn’t even get dirty as I was trying my best to “preserve” them (apart from the muddy sole) My feet don’t get sweaty easily. That’s why I was really surprised my socks were wet.

I am doing the Trailtrekker this June and I was hoping these boots would get me through on the trek but I have doubts now. I was told blisters are main reason why some trekkers don’t finish the walk and wet feet won’t help. I intend to change sock inlcuding liners on regular basis but still ….

You are right my boots were measured with the thicker hiking socks for extra cushioning.

I will certainly go back to CO to speak with them. It isa shame, as the boots are very comfortable but from what I read they may become too heavy if it rains on the trek.

A bit of a nightmare to chose the right footware for such a walk. I really hope I will manage the full trek!!

I bought the ladies comet 3d last week and have to agree they felt really comfortable straight away. They were recommended by a Cotswolds Outdoor member of staff after I explained that I am training for 100km trek in Yorkshire. I was after light but sturdy boots as I will also be walking through the night. I have wide feet too so this seemed to be the best pair, aparently. I walked in them around the house, all seemed fine. On Saturday I wore the boots on a 17km walk in easy terrain, some mud but no rain or water. I wore Bridgedale liner socks and Smartwool hiking socks on top. After the walk, which took just over 2 1/2 hours, my hiking socks were wet. This really surprised me and disappointed me. I intend to walk in them during summer hikes too but worry my feet will be constantly wet which is not great for blisters (especially during 100km trek). I might need to explore the 2 year warranty. This was an expensive purchase but because I wore them outside, Cotswold will probably not provide refund or exchange.

Jana, It’s worth speaking to Cotswold before Salomon – as Salomon will only tell you to return them to Cotswold for warranty return. It could be that the boots are faulty and CO may replace them straight away. Your consumer rights allow you to return items that are faulty and/or not fit for purpose, but as a last resort you have the Salomon warranty.

I’m surprised you got wet feet from a muddy walk. I found the Comets were OK providing the leather uppers didn’t wet through completely, but once they did I was inevitably going to have wet feet. I spent several walks last summer with my toes swimming in water. I also use a really thin Bridgedale Coolmax liner sock and then a regular black shoe sock (standard M&S brand) above that. My feet don’t tend to generate much sweat, but as the boots are Gore-Tex lined that can lead to sweaty feet and the moisture that comes as a result could make your socks wet.

If you can, try a thinner outer sock, to see if it’s heat generating internally that’s causing the moisture. I realise that this may not work, especially if you’ve sized the boots to accommodate a thick sock. A thicker insole (like a Superfeet liner) can help reduce the volume in the boot if needed. CO are very good though, definitely worth taking them in and having a chat with them.

Are you doing the TrailTrekker? I walked part of that last year with a group of friends who were doing the 100Km route – I walked overnight with them as I knew the area and they thought they’d need some motivation during the wee, dark hours. I had a great time, but I couldn’t have managed the full route! They finished it though. The organisation was incredible and the atmosphere amongst the walkers was tremendous – it was certainly an experience – I hope it goes well for you.

I was interested to see your comments on how waterproof (or not) your Salomon Comets were once the leather uppers were wet through completely and the fact that you felt it was inevitable that you would end up with wet feet. Why did you feel this was inevitable? Do you think there was an issue with the Gore tex membrane?

From a personal perspective, after trying various other boot brands, in Salomon I have found a brand that appears to suit my feet. The only instances in which my feet have ended up swimming in water have been on a couple of extreme occasions when I was hiking for a prolonged period through long very wet grass or when I was caught in a prolonged thunder storm and the trail was in spate. Once the boots had dried out they appeared to be okay but it has left me doubtful as to whether or not they are still up to the job!

Great website by the way – it’s well-written and certainly strikes a chord or two with me

I’ve had two pairs of Comets now and before that I had two pairs of Salomon Missions, a similar lightweight boot that was discontinued and replaced with the Comet. All four sets of boots (including the latest set, which are only 3 months old) let water in once the outer boots wets through. I can’t believe that all four sets of boots (both boots in each pair) have had faulty Gore Tex membranes. I have returned the previous three sets of boots using the excellent Salomon warranty, each time stating the lack of waterproofness and each time receiving a replacement pair (or a store credit in one case). That suggests that Salomon have identified a fault in the boots – or, in my mind, it’s more likely that they always replace boots that are returned, without necessarily checking them. So you can see how my experience has led me to the conclusion that once the boots wet through they will let water in. I am not a great fan of Gore Tex (simply because it’s never worked effectively in my experience) and I think future boots that I purchase will be full leather, which can be treated with wax/dubbin to keep the outer as waterproof as possible – thus delaying or possibly eliminating the need to rely on the inner liner. I concede that sometimes, moisture enters the boots through wicking through your socks – if you’re walking through long wet grass, or when your legs become soaked from a particularly rainy day, the tops of your socks will become wet and the water will eventually wick its way down into the boot. However, this doesn’t explain away all the instances of wet feet I’ve had. Let me be clear too, I don’t think this is a failing of Salomon boots. I think this is a fundamental flaw in Gore Tex, or indeed other waterproof membranes. I just don’t think they live up to their reputation or marketing hype.

I love my Salomon boots! They are exceptionally comfortable, straight from the outset and although I have had some issues with the Comets being ever so slightly too tight across the toe box for my liking, I have mostly got round this by using thinner socks and loosening the laces a bit. If you find them comfortable, then stick with them. Perhaps try a Nixwax treatment on the outer boot and see if that helps reduce the boots wetting out. I’ve used Graingers spray in the past and that helps a bit, but can become expensive if you’re using it every week 🙂

At the end of the day I don’t believe anything is waterproof, except my skin! I will be switching back to trail shoes this summer I think; if I’m going to have wet feet anyway, I may as well have the lightest and most flexible footwear I can.

Sorry for the length of that replay and hope it helps in some small way.
Thanks for the kind words on the site and glad some of my ranting resonate with you 🙂

Luckily, my first pair of Salomons were shop bought, so I sorted the sizing straight up.

Tried all the local shops, could get higher Cosmics, but no Comets, so I have ordered some online. I agree about the membrane failure and have had one pair of Fastpackers replaced on that basis. The replacement pair are worn out now but still waterproof, so it can happen! At the end of the day, my feet are moist anyway even in light trainers so sometimes waterproof is relative.

Funny about the laces, I always have to double knot the Fastpackers or they come undone, but good tip – I should carry a spare.

I’ve been pretty happy with the Comets – they have a slightly stiffer sole than my previous Salomons, which seems to make them more appropriate for rugged paths and tracks, but does lead to a rather unfortunate “slapping” of the sole of the boot on the floor, if you do any road walking.

Like all my previous Gore-Tex boots they aren’t particularly waterproof and a good soaking of the uppers means I have wet socks at the end of a walk. Summer was a bit of a joke, based on the number of wet walks I did – my feet were rarely dry. But I dont think this is a failing of these boots in particular.

I’d keep the laces from your Fastpackers as I’ve found the ones that came with the Comets do tend to work loose quite quickly and I typically have to re-tie at least once on a walk.

The redeeming factor is the 2-year Warranty on Salomon boots and I’ll be taking these back in March, before I walk the Southern Upland Way in April/May, I think the failure of the waterproof membrane is sufficient excuse to do so.

They are extremely comfortable and as long as they dont soak through they are light enough not to make your feet sore, even after a good long walk.

Unlike the last two pairs of Salomons I’ve had (both Mission GTX) these seem much better made and more sturdy in their manufacture. Nothing has fallen off, broken, ripped or peeled away, so I’d be happy to recommend these.

I think I mentioned in the initial post – you need 1/2 a size bigger boots for Salomon than you would normally – not sure if you found this with the Fastpackers or not, but if you’re ordering by post it’s worth bearing in mind.

just got a pair of ladies comet 3d and now a bit worried about them letting in water! how bad are they? not used them yet but after reading comments thinking of taking them back…they certainly very comfy.

I certainly wouldn’t take them back if there’s nothing wrong with them. If they develop a problem in the future, you know you have a two year warranty to fall back on and they will change them for new, without asking too many questions. If they’re comfy, keep wearing them 🙂

I am sure that for the prices Salomon sells the boots, they can make them much more durable and reliable. Unfortunately they don’t. Have had their rather old model of boots and that pair was really solid, not like the modern ones, made in Asian countries, which often come with many (even visual) defects. I think this is very unfair, because customer pays quite a lot of money expecting to get a quality product which will not let him(her) down. But instead of that Salomon sells the boots of quite suspicious quality.
Sadly I have tested that on myself and got very disappointed.

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About the author

I'm fast approaching my dotage it seems, with various bits of my body refusing to work in the way they used to, but I still manage to drag my sorry load up a few hills every now and again. Lover of the Yorkshire Dales, fell-walker, trig-pointer, peak-bagger, Wainwright-er & Pennine Way author. I have a passion for long paths, malt whisky, fast cars & Man City. I love getting comments in the blog, so please don't be shy, stop by and say hello! You can email me at stuart at lonewalker dot net